Clutch and control mechanism therefor



Aug. 14, 1951 H. D. COLMAN 2,564,324

CLUTCH AND, CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed July 19, 1940 I INVEN TOR. H0 ward .D. C 0 /man -fieceasea Harry 14. Gare/son- Executordew/fl w ATTORNf Y5 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 CLUTCH AND CONTROL MECHANISMTHEREFOR Howard D. Colman, deceased, late of Rockford, 111., by Harry A.Severson, executor, Rockford,

Ill., assigncr to Barber-Colman Company,

Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application July 19,1940, Serial No. 346,285. Divided and this application January 15, 1948,Serial No. 2,417

13 Claims. 3

The invention relates to clutches and control mechanisms therefor andmore particularly to clutches of the positive drive type.

One. object of the invention is to provide an improved clutch, andcontrol mechanism by which the establishment of a connection betweendriving and driven members, while initiated by an element operated atrandom intervals, is accurately synchronized with the cyclic operationof the driving member.

Another object is to provide a detent controlled, positively actingclutch mechanism embodying novel means for latching the detent in clutchdisengaging position and for periodically releasing it for withdrawal intimed relation to the rotation of the driving clutch member.

Still another object is to provide novel clutch control mechanism whichmay be actuated for effecting engagement of the clutch in any positionof the clutch driving member but which becomes operative only inpredetermined angular positions of the member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clutch and control mechanismembodying the features of the invention. a

Fig. 2 is an end view of theclutch and control mechanism showing theclutch disengaged.

3 is an end View of the clutch control mechanism showing the detentwithdrawn to clutch engaging position.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the I drawing and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

This application is a division of the copending application of Howard D.Colman, Serial No. 346,285, filed July 19, 1940, for an AutomaticMultiple Stage Telegraph System, now Patent No. 2,472,885, issued June14, 1949. The improved clutch and control mechanism constituting theinvention, although not limited to such use, is shown herein as employedfor driving the chain advance mechanism of a signal recorder arrangedfor the reception of signals through a start-stop receiver. In suchrecorders, the chain advance mechanism is operated in cycles accuratelytimed with respect to the operations of other recorder elements, usuallyfrom a continuously running constant speed drive shaft. Start-stopreceivers on the other hand are adapted to receive signals at randomintervals. In this environment the improved control mechanismautomatically and invariably effects clutch engagement at the properpoint in the recorder cycle in response to the random reception ofsignals by the receiver.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the clutch is utilized toconnectv a driving element or shaft 5 which may be the main drive shaftof the recorder with a driven element or shaft 6, which, in thisinstance, is arranged to drive a shaft 7 of the chain advance mechanism.through the medium of a pinion 8 and gear 9. The shafts are journaled insuitable bearings (not. shown) carried by the framework of the apparatuswith which the clutch is associated.

The clutch has suitable driving and driven members, the lattercomprising an arm l0 fast on the shaft 6 and projecting radiallytherefrom- The driving member of the clutch is fast upon a tubular shaftor sleeve If and, in the present instance, comprises a disk i2 disposedadjacent the arm I 9. The sleeve II is driven from the main shaft 5through the medium of a pinion l3 and gear i4; As shown in Fig. 3, thedisk i2 is formed with one or more peripheral tooth depressions ornotches IS with abrupt radially disposed shoulders I? facing in thedirection of rotation of the disk. Three such shoulders are provided inthe present instance so that the shaft 6 may be started in any one ofthree angular positions of the driving member l2.

Connection and disconnection of the driving and driven clutch membersare effected by a connecting element held against circumferentialmovement relative to the driven member and mounted thereon for movementinto or out'of the path traversed by the shoulders l-i in the rotationof the driving member. In the present instance, the connecting elementis in the form of an L-shaped bolt' 20 having its shank portion slidablysupported and guided by thearm I0 adjacent one face of the disk l2 andits end portion overlying the periphery of the disk. As

the disk l2 and is pivotally connected to a lever 2| mounted on theshaft 6- for limited angular movement relative thereto. A torsion.spring 22 urges the lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3,thus tending to draw the bolt'Zll downwardly and entering its upper endportion in the notches of the disk I2.

The bolt 2!! of the clutch is adapted to be shifted to a disengagedposition and held there by a detent 25 movable into or out of the :pathof any one of a plurality of radially projecting control elements hereinshown as fingers 2% formed integrally with the lever 2|. In theexemplary clutch there are three clutch fingers, one for each notch inthe driving disk l2. When a finger is blocked by the detent, continuedrotation of the shaft 6 through a small angle is effective to lift thebolt 28 out of the notch in the driving disk and thereby interrupt thedriving connection for the shaft. When the detent is withdrawn from thepath of the clutch finger 2B, the spring 22 acts to swing the lever(clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3) and thus reenter the bolt in a notch inthe disk.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided for withdrawing thedetent 25 to engage the clutch in timed relation to the rotation of thedrive shaft 5, that is, in synchronism with the operation of theapparatus driven by the shaft although such withdrawal is controlled bya condition timed at random with the rotation of the drive shaft. In theparticular apparatus illustrated, the condition initiating withdrawal ofthe detent 25 is the reception by the signal receiving mechanism of anincoming signal, which, of course, is received at random with respect tothe cyclic operation of the recorder. To this end, provision is made forpositively retaining the detent 25 in blocking relation to the activeclutch finger 26 except for short intervals when the driving member ofthe clutch is in predetermined angular positions and means is providedfor stor- 1 ing power incident to the occurrence of a detent withdrawingcondition for effecting the withdrawal in the succeeding one of suchintervals.

For positively retaining the detent 25 against withdrawal, thecooperating ends of the clutch fingers 26 and the detent are arrangedfor interlocking engagement, in this instance by forming each of theclutch fingers 26 with a notch presenting an abrupt shoulder 21 adaptedto be interposed in blocking relation to the free end of the detent 25.Thus when the tip of the detent is engaged in the notch, movement of thedetent to clutch engaging position or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, iseffectually prevented. On its inner face, the tip of the detent 25 isbeveled and the outer end of each clutch finger is similarly beveled sothat the fingers may be cammed upwardly to permit the detent to enterthe notch on the finger when it is returned to clutch disengagingposition.

To relieve the detent 25 for withdrawal during the intervals abovereferred to and at the proper points in the cycle of the apparatus, theinterlocking engagement between the detent and the associated clutchfinger is interrupted periodically, in this instance, by cam surfaces 28on the periphery of the disk I2. The cam surfaces are positioned toengage the overlying portion of the bolt 28 following the passage ofeach of the notches I6 and rock the lever 2| to retract or lift theclutch finger out of engagement with the detent.

To permit the detent 25 to be conditioned for Withdrawal from blockingrelation to the clutch finger 2S at any time in'the recorder cycle, thedetent 25 is subjected to the action of a spring 29 energized inresponse to the random detent withdrawing condition, such as thereception of a signal. In the construction shown, the detent 25 isformed with a hub portion 30 rotatably mounted on a detent actuatingrockshaft 3| supported on the framework of the apparatus and extendinggenerally parallel to the shaft 6. The spring 29, herein shown as atorsion spring, is connected at one end to the detent 25 and at theother to a collar 33 pinned to the shaft 3|, thereby providing ayieldable connection between the shaft and the detent and constrainingthe detent to rock with the shaft. Preferably, the collar 33 is formedwith a generally L-shaped arm 34 which serves as a backstop for thedetent. A magnetic set device 35 of conventional construction isarranged to releasably hold the detent in either its entered orwithdrawn positions.

In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft 3| is rocked to operated ordetent withdrawing position and thereby stores power in the spring 29 inresponse to the random incoming signal through the medium of a cam 36fast on a cam shaft 37 forming a part of th start-stop receiver. The cam35 is arranged to coact with a follower roller 38 carried on a crank arm39 fast on the shaft 3|. A spring at acting on the arm 39 tends toreturn the shaft to detent entering position, the detent of coursemoving with the shaft through the action of the back stop arm 34. Asshown in Fig. 1, the cam 35 has a single lobe positioned to momentarilyengage the follower roller 38 in each revolution of the shaft 31 andthus rock the shaft 3| to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the timing ofthe cam 36 is at random with respect to the timing of the apparatusdriven by the shaft 5, means is provided for holding the detent shaft 3|in operated position and thus maintaining the spring 29 under tensionindependently of the cam 36 until the clutch finger 26 is retracted torelease the detent 25. Preferably, this is accomplished by a pivotedlatch 4| urged by a spring 42 into engagement with a latch member orfinger 53 fast on the shaft 3|.

The rocking of the shaft 3| to operated position as above describedtensions the spring 29 sufficiently to overcome the pull of the magneticset device 35 when the clutch finger 26 is lifted by the cam surface 28out of engagement with the tip of the detent 25. The detent is thenquickly rocked to its withdrawn position by the spring 29 as shown inFig. 3, and the clutch bolt 29 is permitted to drop into a notch in thedisk I2 as soon as the notch is presented thereto. The entry of the bolt26 in one of the notches I6 completes the driving connection between thedriving member |2 of the clutch and the driven member Ill and the shaft6 is thus rotatably driven.

In order to disengage the clutch at the end of each operating cycle, thedetent 25 must be returned to normal rest position in time to effectwithdrawal of the clutch bolt. To this end, the latch 4| is withdrawnthrough the action of a three-lobed cam 4% which in this instance isformed on or rigidly secured to the hub portion 45 of the pinion 8. Thecam is timed so that the latch ll is disengaged and the detent shaft isfully restored by the action of the spring 40 before the clutch drivingmember completes a third of a revolution. In this movement of the shaft,the arm 34 breaks the holding action of the magnet 35 and cams thedetent 25 along with it thus positiom'ng the detent to block the nextclutch finger and disengage the clutch at the end of the cycle which, inthis instance, requires revolution of the shaft 6 through one-third of arevolution.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides novelclutch and control mechanism therefor whereby-the engagement of apositive drive clutch in synchronism with other continuously operatingelements with which it is; associated may be effected by control meanswhose; operation is timed at random with respect to the timing of theapparatus. The provision of the means for restraining the clutchcontrolling-detent against withdrawal except at predetermined points inthe operating cycle of the apparatus in'comblna ion with the arrangementfor actuating the detent by power stored ina spring permits the controlmechanism to beconditioned for detent withdrawal at anytime in the cycleof the apparatus while-theactual with.- drawal of the detent-isefiectedatprecisely the proper point in the cycle.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clutch mechanism having av driving member and-a drivenniember,the combination with acontrolfinger carried by the driven memher,-aidetent movable into or out of blocking re lation, to said finger, saidfinger acting when blocked by thedetent to disengagethedriving anddriven members and acting'whenthe-detent is withdrawn to effect adriving engagement of the members, detent withdrawing means, means onsaid finger tending to hold said detent in blocking relation to thefinger irrespective of the oporation of said detent withdrawing means,and means for periodically actuating the finger to disable saidholdingmeans so as to permit withdrawal of the detent bysaicl-withdrawing meanswhen opera-ted.

2. In a clutch mechanism having a driving member and a driven member,the combination with a controlfinger carried'by the driven member, adetent movableinto or out of blocking relation to said finger, saidfinger acting when blocked by the detent to disengage the drivingandclriven members and acting when the detentv is withdrawn to effect; adriving engagement of the members, means operable to yieldably urge saiddetent out of blocking relation tothefinger, means on said fingertending to hold the detent in the finger blocking position against theaction of said yieldable means, and means for periodically disablingsaidholding meanstopermit said yieldable means to withdraw the detentfrom the blocking position.

3. In a clutch mechanism having rotatable driving and driven membersacontrol element rotatable with the driven member, said-element actingwhen blocked against rotation to disengage the driving and drivenmembers and actin when released for rotation, to establish a drivingiconnection between the members, means for blocking and releasing saidelement including a rockshaftdisposed at one sideof, the drivenmemher, adetent rotatably mounted on said shaft for movement into or out Ofblocking relation to said control element, spring means interposedbetween said detent and said shaft constraining the detent to rock withthe shaft, means operative when said detent is positioned to block saidelement for rocking said shaft in a direction to withdraw the detent,cooperating means on said detent and said control element normallyoperative to restrain the detent against movement with said shaftwhereby said spring means is tensioned, and means for periodicallyretracting said control element to release said detent for withdrawal bysaid tensioned spring means.

4. In a clutch mechanism having rotatable driving and driven members, acontrol element ctingwhcniblocked againstrotation to disengage thedriving and driven members andv acting whenreleased for rotation. toestablish a driving connection between the members, means for blockingand releasing said element including a rockshaft disposed atone side 0f.the driven membar, a detent otatably mounted on said shaft for movementinto or out of blocking relation to said control element, sprin meansinterposed between d detent and said shaft constrainin the detent torock with the shaft, means operative when said detent is positioned toblock said element for rocking said, shaft in a direction to withdrawthe detent, means normally operative to restrain the detent againstmovement with said shaft whereby said spring means is tensioned, andmeans for periodically disabling said restraining means in timed;relation to the rotation of the driving clutch member.

5, In a clutch mechanism having rotatable driving and driven members, acontrol element mounted; on and rotatable with the driven member, saidvelement acting when blocked against rotation to disengage the drivingand driven members and. acting when released for rotation to establishav driving connection between the members, means for, blocking andreleasing said element including a rockshaft biased to a normalrestposition, a detent rotatably mounted on said shaft for movement intoor out of blocking relation to said control element, spring meansconstraining said detent to rock with said shaft, coacting means on saiddetent and said control element normall restraining said detentagainstmovement with said, shaft, means for rocking said: shaft to tension saidspring means, latch means for retaining saidshaftin operated position,means for periodically retracting said con.- trol element to releasesaid detent for withdrawal by said spring means, and means operatingintimed relation to the retraction of said control element for-releasingsaid latch means topermit the return of said rockshaft to its normalrest position.

6. Inv a clutch. mechanism having rotatable driving and driven members,a control element mounted on and rotatable with the driven member, saidelement acting when blocked against rotation to disengage. the drivingand driven members and acting when released for rotation to establish adriving, connection between the members, means for blocking andreleasing said element including a rockshaft biased to a normalresposition, a detent rotatably mounted on.

said S a for movement into or out of blocking means normally restrainingsaid, detent; against movement with said rockshaft, said shaft whenrocked to an operated position serving to tension said spring, latchmeans for retaining said shaft in operated position, means forperiodically disabling said restraining means to permit withdrawal ofsaid detent by said spring means, and other means operating in timedrelation to the withdrawal of said detent for releasing said latchmeans.

7. The combination with a clutch having a continuously rotating drivingmember, a driven member and a control element rotatable with the drivenmember adapted when blocked against rotation to disengage the drivingand driven members and when released for rotation to establish a drivingconnection between the members, of a detent adapted to cooperate withsaid control element, a rockshaft supporting said detent for movementinto or out of blocking relation to said control element, spring meansconstraining said detent to rock with said shaft, yieldable meansnormally maintaining said shaft in a position to interpose said detentin blocking relation to said control element, means restraining saiddetent against withdrawal except at predetermined points in therotational cycle of the driving member, and means operated at randomintervals for rocking said shaft to detent withdrawing position, saidspring means being tensioned by the rocking movement of said shaft toeffect withdrawal of said detent at one of said predetermined points.

8. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, of a detent shiftable between two positions to efiectengagement and disengagement of the members, spring means associatedwith said detent, means operated at random to tension said spring meansfor shifting said detent from clutch disengaging position to clutchengaging position, means acting to positively retain said detent inclutch disengaging position against the action of the tensioned springmeans, and means operative in timed relation to the rotation of thedriving clutch member for disabling said retaining means to free saiddetent to the action of said spring means.

9. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, a detent shiftable between two positions to effect engagementand disengagement of the members, power actuated means timed at randomwith respect to the rotation of the driving clutch member for shiftingsaid detent from clutch disengaging position to clutch engagingposition, means acting to positively retain said detent in clutchdisengaging position, means for storing the power generated by saidpower actuated means while said detent is retained in clutch disengagingposition, and means operated in timed relation to the rotation of saiddriving clutch member for releasing said detent for movement to clutchengaging positions by such stored power.

10. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, of a control element normally operative to maintain the membersdisengaged, power actuated means timed at random with respect to therotation of the driving clutch member, means for storing power generatedby said power actuated means, and means acting in timed relation to therotation of the driving clutch member for rendering said control elementoperative under the action of such stored power to effect the engagementof the clutch members.

11. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, a con tinuously operated driver for the driving member, controlmeans operative to maintain the members disengaged, power actuated meansoperated at random with respect to the operation of said driver forconditioning said control means for engaging the clutch members, andmeans for rendering the conditioned control eiiective to engage theclutch members in timed relation to the operation of said driver.

12. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, a con tinuously operated driver for said driving memher, acontrol element rotatable with said driven member operative when blockedagainst rotation to disengage the members and when released to efiectthe engagement of the members, detent means disposed in the path of saidcontrol ele ment to block the element against rotation, means forwithdrawing said detent to release said element for engaging the clutchmembers, means operated at random with respect to the operation of saiddriver for conditioning said detent withdrawing means for operation, andmeans for initiating the operation of said detent withdrawing means intimed relation to the operation of said driver.

13. The combination with a clutch having rotatable driving and drivenmembers, a continuously operated driver for said driving memher, acontrol element rotatable with said driven member operative when blockedagainst rotation to disengage the members and when released to effectthe engagement of the members, detent means disposed in the path of saidcontrol element to block the element against rotation, detentwithdrawing means, power actuated means operated at random with respectto the operation of said driver for energizing said detent withdrawingmeans without efiecting withdrawal of said detent, and means forinitiating the operation of the energized detent withdrawing means toeffect withdrawal of said detent in timed relation to the operation ofsaid driver.

HARRY A. SEVERSON, Executor of the Estate of Howard D. Colman,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 787,138 Wehrlin Apr. 11, 19051,737,907 Arnold Dec. 3, 1929 2,049,690 Cunningham Aug. 4, 19362,472,885 Colman June 14, 1949

